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Saturday, December 29, 2018

ՀԱՇՈՒԵՅԱՐԴԱՐ
               BALANCE SHEET - My journey through teaching fireld

ՍՆԱՎ-ի ՈՍԿԵԱՅ ՏԱՐԵԴԱՐՁԻՆ- Առթիւ
HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY to H*M*A*D*S*
Ս* Ն* Ա* Վ*
Ս- Սերունդներու մտքի լուսաշող վառարան
Ն-իւ Եորքեան միակ Հայ Նախակրթարան
Ա- պրիր երկար, դիմաւորես դարադարձըդ     
Վ-կայելու սերունդներուն փառապանծ ներկան:

            My journey with HMADS started in June 1987 when I was invited to meet the HMADS Board headed by Roy Kelegian and Sara Dadourian, Grace Kechian, Sema Minassian, Elezabeth Keusey, Janice Kechijian, Celia Handigian.
I drove to HMADS for the first time with Dr. Pergrouhi Svajian!
NO GPS- No Mobile - just maps...

My first teaching and administrative responsibilities started back in Sept. of 1965 in Aleppo – at Grtassirats Elementary School – I feel blessed that many of my students from those early years keep in touch and grateful for the memories. Currently that school is s a High school6 thanks to one of my students who is the benefactor of the expansion..
In USA I have been in many educational settings however, my service for three decades for HMADS keeps its special spot in my heart!
            Throughout the years I feel so blessed, as I was surrounded with countless friendships and supporters of my mission. I had super secretaries starting from late Mrs. Beatrice Kassapian, followed briefly by Ashkhen Balian, Sandra Miskjian (9 years), as she was going through cancer treatments the office had so many helpers: Mrs. Maria Bakalian, Anoush Givelekian, Lusin Garabedian – followed by Mae Kazandjian for a year and Lori Varjabedian for four years- all have left indelible marks in my heart.
            For personal reasons I had to leave -2001-2006- five years hoping to retire….
Mrs. Mae Kazandjian and Sophie Kerbeykian took over during that period, and then I was invited to come back in 2006!
            My heart was – and IS- ALWAYS with HMADS and I came back with a commitment for 2-3 years until a candidate is ready to take over.
            My promise for 2-3 years back in the summer of 2006 extended to 10 years. I was so fortunate and blessed that I had an exemplary co-worker in that mini office and wonderful teaching teams (not counting some of the heartaches I experienced caused by sudden selfish decisions of some)!!
For the past ten years I had the privilege of working with a very special person: Mrs. Maro Jamgotchian, she is NOT a mere secretary. She is a great human being, a confident, a whole support team, a passionate human being!
            During my service years, if any of my decisions or work style was not to the liking of some- be it in the parents’ or teachers’ circles or even Board Members– I will be happy to hear that – because that means that I had a true commitment to my mission to follow and NOT to please EVERYONE!
Dear Parents - Your children are treasures, all with unique and sparkling personalities. I feel honored to have had a roll in their education. It was truly a privilege … and helped me to forget the stress of driving all the way from Brooklyn to Bayside, to watch them grow from nursery into hard working bright sixth grade students. And… it was even more delightful to see them coming back after graduating, watch them, feel and see in their eyes the yearning – GAROD- for HMADS!
Yes! It’s time to say farewell! As I bid farewell I am very happy and comfortable that my dear student Seta Tavitian – Mrs. Megherian is in charge, professionally she is ready now to continue the mission, to carry the torch lit by our founders, and most importantly the Torch of Mesrob Mashdots!
Once again thank you for all the outpouring love, gifts, flowers, honors through out the years. I cherish them all. Because of your love, I was the recipient of all the honors and accolades; to name a few: Queens Borough President Claire Shulman’s Proclamation that named the November 16, 1997 as Principal Zarminé  Boghosian’s Day, as well as Vehapar Karekin II encyclical along with St. Mesrob & St. Sahag Medal in October 2014 presented by our Primate: His Eminence Arch. Khajag Barsamian.
I will treasure and cherish all the notes and sentiments I received over the past 30 years. I am especially touched looking at those tiny fingerprints depicting the Fruits of the ROOTS of HMADS.  
Let’s pay respect to the memory of the HMADS first Founders and salute the most recent benefactors, contributors, volunteers, parents, students, alumni- all extraordinary people who helped build this educational center for the generations to come.
As we are celebrating the Golden Anniversary of HMADS we have to come together to acknowledge all those individuals and their contributions to HMADS! After all THIS IS the ONLY Armenian Everyday School with a mission to teach our language, honor our traditions, along with keeping up with the NY State mandated curriculum, and to fulfill the requirements with high standards!
            It’s our duty to acknowledge and never forget all the helping hands and their contributions.
If you know someone, past or present, which has made a positive impact on our own beloved HMADS please come forward, and pass it to the office.  From the first Founder’s Day to the most recent graduating classes, there are extraordinary people who helped build this HMADS Family, a nurturing environment, a home away from home that created its character and moved it forward.
The HMADS celebrations of its GOLDEN Anniversary may run throughout the year 2017 to ….. June 2018.  Let the community know, for the past 50 years, who helped to make our community the best place to learn and teach the children the essentials to become decent human beings, exemplary citizens- individuals who have learned here the tools and the value of Love of Learning, Respect and Contributing by giving back!
            Please Keep Nurturing the Roots to enjoy the healthy Fruits of HMADS for years to come!
With utmost love and gratitude,
On a lighter note… I would like to sign off with all my titles…that were given to me by HMADS people….
“Baron Digin Dnorenouhi, The lady upstairs, Principal, Mrs. Boghosian, digun Boghosian, deacon Boghosian, Administrator, former Principal, Principal Emeritus….  or  just merely…. NO TITLE:  I am always the same, to remain with my very best wishes for a safe and enjoyable Year 2019………..
Zarminé Bog
50 ˜
PS: Please keep in touch – I promise to respond in a timely fashion, I would like to hear about  your children’s adventures, accomplishments; your children may consider me as pen-pals …. It’s a great way to practice their writing in Armenian & English J  –
Please make sure you install the Armenian Font –(Font Sylfaen is easy to use) it’s a built in program in new computers – Armenian writings can be easily read via e-mails too…..
PS- See below:
Յ.Գ. - Շատ դիւրին է Հայերէն տառերը աւելցնել ձեր համակարգիչին – Խնդրեմ քաջալերեցէք ձեր զաւակները – սխալ կամ ճիշդ- թող հայերէն գրեն, որպէսզի չկորսնցնեն եւ չմոռնան այն ինչ որ սերմանուած է իրենց մանուկ ուղեղներուն մէջ ՍՆԱՎ-էն ներս:

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